Minneapolis became the focus of what the federal administration claimed to be the search for people who don’t have documentation to be in this country. In reality, we saw the militarization of federal forces against those, individuals and governments, who disagree with the administration’s policies. The resulting violence led to the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, detaining children and Indigenous people, and disruptions that resulted in schools and many businesses closing. Many of us in the rest of the country have been stunned by the violence. Made worse, because we understand this is just the latest authoritarian act.
We wonder what can we do? Are we next?
A defining moment?
I’ve been aware of the admonition to ‘resist not evil‘ since the time I struggled with what I would do about the requirement to register for the military draft when I turned 18-years of age. A Quaker pastor at the time read my letter to the draft board explaining why I was turning in my draft card. He asked, ‘what about resist not evil?’ It was a good reminder and something I’ve tried, but often failed, to remember since.
At this time, as we consider what we might do to counteract the consequences of this deepening authoritarianism, my friend and fellow Quaker, Marshall Massey, has written about ‘resist not evil’ and this opportunity for Friends to serve as witnesses and observers in relation to ICE. (see below).
What a witness provides is testimony. This is true both in biblical teaching and in contemporary legal practice. People being trained as observers in relation to ICE gather the testimony, not just of their own eyes and ears, but of the videos they take on their cell phones. And the testimony must be unbiased.
Marshall Massey
Active Objection : Beyond Resistance
My research and prayers have led me to the concept I call ‘active objection.’ This came from thinking about ‘conscientious objection‘, which led to the concept I call the NewCO (new conscientious objector). The NewCO operates within the nonviolent context of mutual aid, abolition of police and prisons, and LANDBACK.
I’ve created a number of graphics for various ways to explain how I see active objection, rather than resistance, as the path we should take.
